Toothbrush



UNITED STATES HARRY MATSUNAGA, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TOOTHBRUSH,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, .1922.

Application filed June 13, 1921. Serial No. 477,245.

T 0 all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY MA'rsUNAoA, a citizen of Japan, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Toothbrushes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toilet articles, particularly to brushes for cleansing the teeth, and has for its object the provision of a novel tooth brush including a handle formed with a socket within which is detachably engageable with the brush head, the latter being capable of removal and replacement when worn. the construction of the handle being peculiar whereby the brush head will be automatically retained therein when once placed in position.

An important object is the provision of a brush of this character which will be simple and inexpensive in manufacture,

highly efficient in use, durable in service, and V a general improvement in the art.

\Vith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my brush,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the handle thereof,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the brush head detached, and

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view on the line A-A of Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates the handle of the brush which is formed of any suitable material but which must be of such a nature as to be resilient when thin. The major portion of the handle 10 is elongated and may be formed as a hollow shell or may be formed. solid, as preferred, this detail not affecting the invent-ion. One end of the handle is formed with an elongated substantially rectangular socket portion 11 which is undercut at one end, as indicated at 12, whereby to provide a retaining flange 13. The sides 14 of this socket portion are formed with inwardly extending flanges 15 which are preferably curved, as shown.

The brush proper is shown as comprising a suitable back 16 Within which the bristle tufts are secured by any suitable or preferred means, as for instance by being inserted within sockets 18 through which extend'longitudinal wires 19 or the like. This back 16 is of a size and shape to fit within the socket portion 11 of the handle with one end 20 of the back engaging beneath the flange 13 and the flanges 15 engaging over the edges of the back.

I11 inserting the brush head into the socket the end 20 is first engaged beneath the flange 1.3 whereupon thg brush head is pressed down into the socket and this will result in outward swinging of the sides 14 of the socket until the brush head enters the socket whereupon the flanges 15 will spring into retaining position. The bottom of the socket 11 is preferably formed with a series of holes 21 to permit the escape of any water which might accumulate in the socket. In case of wear the brush proper may be removed by inserting a knife blade or the like beneath one side or beneath the end thereof opposite the end 20 and prying apparent that the-brush head maybe removed occasionally to permit a thorough cleansing thereof and the socket Within "which it fits.

'hile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of nay invention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A tooth brush comprising a handle formed at one end with an elongated substantially rectangular socket having one extremity formed with an overhanging flange and provided at its side edges with overhanging flanges, and a brush head including a back carrying bristles and detachably engaged within said socket beneath said anges, the sides of the socket being resilient whereby to permit outward and inward springing thereof.

' In testimony whereof I aflix m signature. I 

